Posts - Americans

Is Yahoo’s CEO Overpaid And Not Being Fired Because She’s Pregnant?

Finance

During an interview that is sure to draw criticism from women across the nation, Scott Galloway, an outspoken professor of marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business, directly attacked the existence of Yahoo and its CEO, Marissa Mayer.

Specifically, in an interview with Tom Keene on Bloomberg Surveillance, Galloway proffered that Mayer is “the most overpaid CEO in history” and that the reason she has kept her job as the struggling company’s CEO is because she recently announced that is pregnant with twins. He stated that, “If she hadn’t announced that she was pregnant with twins, she’d be out of a job within six months.”

Galloway went even further when he insinuated that Yahoo would face a major backlash if Mayer was fired after her pregnancy announcement. He stated that, “I don’t think any board in America right now in technology that’s as visible as Yahoo wants to be seen as not leaning in. She got a reprieve from death row because she’s pregnant with twins.”

The concept of “leaning in” comes from the book published by Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. The essence of the book is that women need to be more assertive at work and not let biases keep them from pushing forward.

Despite his assessment regarding Mayer’s continued employment due to her pregnancy, Galloway also pointed out that as her tenure as CEO, she has made the most questionable and worst acquisitions in the technology industry and he described Yahoo as simply an “accidental hedge fund” that should die out. “We should put a bullet in the head of this story called Yahoo. It’s time to euthanize this thing.”

In fact, Galloway described Yahoo’s board of directors and its actions as a good lesson in failed corporate governance. He suggested that the company would fare much better if controlled by other management, citing Microsoft as an example.

It is likely that Galloway’s widely publicized comments are not the only driver of Yahoo’s depressed stock price. Yahoo’s stock tanked yesterday after it received bad news regarding its planned tax-free spinoff from Alibaba, China’s equivalent of Amazon. While all hope is not lost for Yahoo’s plans, the IRS declined to provide Yahoo with a “private letter ruling” which essentially would guarantee that the spin-off plan satisfied IRS requirements.

Galloway’s depiction of Mayer is not the only criticism she has received lately. She received an enormous online backlash after she announced that she would return to work two weeks after giving birth to her twins.

The New Apple TV Will Be A Periscope Streaming, Social Gaming Living Room Hub

Finance

As traditional game companies Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony have begun to incorporate various video and music streaming services into their consoles, Apple has plans to turn the tables.

New features for its latest iteration of its streaming hardware device Apple TV will include a better graphics processor and a game controller-style remote, again blurring the lines between once separate entertainment modes.

Another key addition will be live-streaming app Periscope, which is also rumored to be working on integration into the new device.

The move could give a much needed boost in visibility to the Twitter-owned company and its ten million strong user base.

The Periscope app allows users to broadcast a live video stream to their followers, who can then communicate with the broadcaster in real time. With the addition of Periscope to Apple TV, users would more easily be able to view live streams from their television, though they will not be able to broadcast with their Apple TV, which lacks a built-in camera.

New features for the device will also include a touch-based remote, increased storage, and Siri integration. Yes, that means your days of typing searches into Apple TV or using iOS Remote are over.

The price tag for the new box may be up to $149, which would place it much higher than competitor Roku 3 ($99), which also has voice search capability, but no gaming function. If history is any guide, Apple aficionados will likely have no issue with this price point.

Although gaming has become more mainstream due to its increased availability on smartphones and other mobile devices, Apple could further boost the phenomenon with the new device.

The addition of its gaming function puts the new Apple TV into the “microconsole” category, which is a title that was created by the serious gamer community. All previous entrants into the microconsole market have not done too well, including the PlayStation TV and Nvidia Shield. Outside of the gamer community, however, these companies lack the brand awareness of Apple, which means it could become a force to be reckoned with in the living room.

UK Set To Debate Legalization Of Marijuana After Petition By Citizens

Entertainment News

The British Parliament will next month begin debating whether or not marijuana will be legalized according to a Government official.

He said beginning Monday, October 12th, Members of Parliament (MPs) will debate a proposal which seeks to make the “production, sale and use of cannabis legal.”

The debate, which will be led by legal marijuana proponent and member of Parliament’s petitions committee Labour MP Paul Flynn, is in response to an official petition on the Parliament website which garnered 211,000 signatures.

Flynn has in the past called for the legalisation of medical marijuana, introducing bills in 1999, as well as supporting another in partnership with Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake in 2008.

Political experts say the upcoming debate will most probably not lead to current marijuana law changes, but it could put pressure on the Government to change its relatively hardline against marijuana.

In its official response to the petition, the Government said “Substantial scientific evidence shows cannabis is a harmful drug that can damage human health. There are no plans to legalise cannabis as it would not address the harm to individuals and communities” , adding legalisation would “send the wrong message”.

When pressed by media to make a comment on whether the Government believed marijuana was more harmful than alcohol, no response was forthcoming.

A recent study published in the U.S, which British marijuana legalization activists cite frequently, found that marijuana users were no more likely than non users to suffer mental health problems including psychosis or depression.

The political director of the British United Patients alliance Jon Liebling, a pro-medical cannabis lobby, said: “We urge all of our MPs to participate in an informed, pragmatic, evidence-based, compassionate debate resulting at the very least in allowing sick people a legitimate, effective medicine that vastly improves their quality of life without fear of criminalisation.”

Over recent years the UK has bucked the international trend of many developed countries either legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana use, by actually tightening restrictions. Six years ago the Government moved its classification of marijuana back to a Class B drug, which means anyone prosecuted for possessing marijuana can face a five year prison sentence, while suppliers can get 14 years.

Auto Industry In Three Countries Mounts Attack On Secret TPP Agreement Over Unfair Japanese Imports

News

Auto industry representatives from Canada, the U.S., and Mexico are pushing for better protections for their domestic car makers in the super-secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), as negotiations between Japan and the three nations commence this week.

TPP talks in July were derailed partly due to the discovery of a secret deal between the U.S. and Japan about the auto industry matter.

At issue is a U.S.-Japan agreement that cars and car parts that are sold duty-free in TPP member countries would require just 45% and 30% domestic content, respectively. Canada and Mexico were not party to this agreement, and have now issued a letter to the trade representatives of their countries along with the U.S. that is pushing for a domestic content rule of 50% for both cars and car parts.

The September 8th letter warns that there are three million jobs in the industry at stake, and that the industry accounts for 20% of all trade between the three nations. Current duty-free rules between the three countries mandates that 60% of a light-duty vehicle in addition to a similar percentage for car parts, must be made in Canada, the U.S., or Mexico.

The loss of the manufacturing sector is just as big of an issue in Canada, as it is in the U.S. and plans are being made to continue TPP negotiations in the run up to the October election there. Such a move is controversial, but was justified as being necessary in order to protect Canada’s interests. Normally, matters of state are not dealt with during what is called Canada’s “caretaker mode,” during which period elected officials are restricted in their abilities and are supposed to conduct routine matters only until the election has passed.

Public sentiment in the U.S. on the TPP has been negative in overall, with a July New York Times/CBS poll showing that 63% of the U.S. public believes in using protectionist trade policies in order to help domestic industries, and only 30% stating that free trade should be supported without conditions.

Poor Laws And Abusive Corporations Are Forcing Americans To Fight For The ‘Right To Repair’

News

As companies continue to infuse technology into even the most mundane of household appliances there is an ever growing battle over what can and should be done in the event a product breaks.

Do consumers automatically run to the store to purchase a new product or do they attempt to repair the old one?

While this may seem like a decision for consumers, many manufacturers and retailers limit our choices by controlling and limiting repair plans and the availability of necessary replacement parts. Some companies even utilize digital software locks to prevent consumers from making repairs.

This mostly is experienced in the realm of mobile phones, televisions, and the like but its also creeping into things like cars and appliances due to increased levels of technology. While televisions are not made like they used to be, and while older TV models are simply unacceptable when compared with new high definition TVs, the old ones lasted much longer – even decades longer.

When an old TV broke, people mainly had them repaired rather than purchase a new one.

That is not the case anymore. To many people, the option of simply buying a new product is easier and less time consuming than having the old one repaired. Especially when prices of technology come down after time. (Remember when a DVD player cost $500?)

Yet many consumers still wish to retain their independence and repair devices, especially big ticket items like cars or appliance.

This increased demand for repair services is being noticed by businesses and the options for repairing your broken technology are greater than we thought. The Internet is making it more difficult for manufacturers and retailers to push consumers into simply purchasing a new product or face unending headaches.

A good example of this is iPhone screens, which notoriously crack. Visit a college campus and you’ll find at least a half dozen stores that specialize in repairing cracked screens and broken phone cases.

Some service providers even offer do-it-yourself kits for fixing a certain problem. The growing number of these providers illustrates that consumers wish to do what they choose rather than be forced to make a new purchase.

At least when the option is available.

Increasingly manufacturers are resorting to courts to block your ability to repair your purchased products, using legal tools such as the infamous Digital Millennium Copyright Act, meaning that even though you’ve bought something you don’t have the right to fix it.

As technology, and with it software locks and other dirty tricks to prevent repair, creeps into nearly every major purchase a consumer makes expect there to be an ongoing battle for consumers to keep the right to repair.

For more information on this topic visit Right To Repair

Puerto Rico Is About To Run Out Of Money And Nobody Knows What To Do

News

In the very near future, Puerto Rico is expected to run out of money. The island is facing a $13 billion shortfall over the next several years. Making matters worse, reports indicate that the Puerto Rican Treasury’s single cash account and Government Development Bank are expected to deplete their remaining available liquidity prior to the year’s end. This is extremely concerning, as Puerto Rico is essentially married to the dollar, and the island cannot print its own currency.

The Puerto Rican government plans to manage the issue by consolidating its education department, restructuring its Department of Economics Development, and establishing a fiscal oversight board. However, the public is not happy with the plan, as it will certainly affect the livelihood of many citizens. For instance, many government employees will have their salaries frozen, and transportation expenses are certain to increase resulting in rising prices throughout the island.

This news comes as only 40% of the working population is currently employed, and island pensions face unfunded liabilities that were more than $37 billion in 2013. However, the situation is so dire that reductions in spending must inevitably take place. It is unknown how exactly much debt will be able to be cut by reducing government spending. But things do not appear positive, as the government expects to run out of money by next May or June.

The plan to reduce spending will be difficult to put into action, as it will face heavy resistances from various unions and creditors who will try to cling to their current statuses. But with roughly $47 billion dollars of debt, there is very little Puerto Rico can do about the situation. Of that figure, $18 billion is due within the next five years. The budget gap is estimated to be $28 billion by the end of this time period. Reform measures can reduce this figure to roughly $13 billion.

It is the citizens of Puerto Rico who will suffer from a tightened budget. Negotiations with creditors are expected to be very difficult. Additionally, the education industry will be greatly affected. Action will be taken by closing schools, altering teacher pensions, and reducing subsidies to the University of Puerto Rico. Tax laws are also expected to be changed, and healthcare costs will be scrutinized.

However, the possibility of a bailout lingers. One proposal states that Puerto Rico should pressure the United States government for assistance. Unfortunately for Puerto Rico, a bailout is not expected to occur at the present time. But the situation could change if the Puerto Rican public responds aggressively to the proposed budget cuts. The issue could even come into play for the 2016 presidential election.

Our Obsession With Caffeine Is Starting To Turn Dangerous

Health & Wellness

For Americans, caffeine is quickly becoming a potentially dangerous obsession. Gone are the days where a caffeine fix came from a simple cup of coffee or day. Today, caffeine comes in a wide variety of formulations.

Energy drinks, pills, and even gum are replacing more traditional methods. Perhaps most alarming is pure powdered caffeine, which can be purchased for as little as $10 per pound. One teaspoon of the powder contains the same amount of caffeine as about 28 cups of coffee.

Yet such potency can be dangerous.

In recent years, thousands of people have overdosed on caffeine, while others have suffered through experiences of addiction and withdrawal.

In the most extreme cases, deaths have resulted.

One 14 year old with a heart condition went into cardiac arrest after consuming two heavily caffeinated energy drinks within a 24 hour period.

A 19 year old individual from Connecticut died upon consuming a dozen caffeine pills.

A healthy teen from Ohio died upon ingesting powdered caffeine.

With all of these cases, the Food and Drug Administration has started to warn consumers about the associated risks of caffeinated products. They are also urging manufacturers to reconsider how their products are marketed.

The FDA began investigating the phenomenon in 2012 after 13 people died using the popular supplement 5-Hour Energy.

The popular product contains caffeine along with other ingredients. In 2013, the agency pressured gum manufacturer Wrigley into discontinuing its caffeinated gum. Most recently, the FDA has issued warnings to five distributors of powdered caffeine. The FDA says that pure powdered caffeine is dangerous and presents a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury to consumers.

Caffeine is a bitter white alkaloid that is naturally found in the beans, leaves, and fruit of more than 60 plants. It is the most widely consumed psychoactive agent worldwide. Roughly 85% of Americans are believed to consume caffeine at least once per day. Many of these individuals are children, some of whom aren’t even in kindergarten. Taken in moderation, caffeine poses little to no risk. In fact, certain studies have found that the consumption of caffeine can reduce the risk of diseases such as Parkinson’s and cancer. However, excessive consumption can be deadly.

Hospital have reported an increase in caffeine-related cases in recent years. From January 1st to July 31st this year, poison centers across the country have reported 1,675 cases involving energy drinks. Nearly two-thirds of these cases were from children under the age of 18. Furthermore, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5, listed “caffeine withdrawal” as a legitimate medical disorder.

Overall, it doesn’t appear that the usage of caffeine will be slowing down anytime soon. However, it is important to be careful when consuming the popular legal stimulant in all its newly created forms.

For The First Time Ever Scientists Know Just How Many Trees Exist On Earth

Culture

While there are millions of trees on our planet an accurate estimate of the precise number has never been known. That is until a recent study published in Nature revealed that there are currently over three trillion trees on Earth, which is more than seven times greater than previous estimates.

With this more accurate picture of the world’s forests, scientists will be able to improve climate research, as well as deforestation tracking.

Thomas Crowther of Yale’s School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, who was lead author of the study, was able to arrive at the new estimate by establishing a relationship between satellite imagery and first-hand tallies of trees in the areas where such records existed. From there it was simply a matter of applying this relationship to the satellite imagery for areas that have no first-hand data.

The highest areas of tree density are those of North America and Eurasia, whereas the tropics have the largest overall forested area, containing some 43% of the world’s trees. Scientists state that there are currently 46% fewer trees than when human civilization occurred, with numbers continuing to drop at a rapid rate.

The research has great potential for improved education on deforestation, which may eventually lead to better efforts to reverse it. The phenomenon has many impacts, from wildlife habitat destruction, to its effect on the water cycle. For example, the rainforests of the tropics provide about 30% of the world’s fresh water by the method of transpiration, which is the movement of water from a tree’s leaves to the atmosphere. This same mechanism also removes heat from forested areas, and transports it via the resulting water vapor.

One other effect of forests as it relates to climate change, is their function as a carbon sink, storing over two billion tons of carbon each year, according to a US Forest Service study. This is equivalent to one third of global carbon emissions. The forests may not be able to maintain their current rate of carbon absorption, however, which would cause an increase in the rate of global warming.

Having Just Agreed To Nuclear Deal, Iran’s Supreme Leader Declares Israel Will Not Exist In 25 Years

Entertainment News

Opponents of the U.S. Iran nuclear deal were handed a ‘I told you so’ gift today when Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that Israel will not exist in 25 years.

In an address to the Iranian people Iran’s leader said “I’d say to Israel that they will not see the end of these 25 years. God willing, there will be no such thing as a Zionist regime in 25 years. Until then, struggling, heroic and jihadi morale will leave no moment of serenity for Zionists.”

Experts say the reference to 25 years most probably referred to the monitoring of the country’s nuclear program for 25 years which is a stipulation of the Iran nuclear deal which will see the lifting of sanctions on the country in return for the monitoring.

In his address, Khamenei also said he had only approved negotiations with the U.S.on the nuclear monitoring issue and that he would not be allowing further talks with the U.S. on any other topics.

“The Americans want negotiations with Iran as a means to infiltrate into the country and impose their will,” he said. “The Americans don’t hide their hostility towards Iran: One of them smiles, and at the same time, others take measures against Iran.”

Khamenei continued his vitriol towards the U.S, with “There are those in Iran who insist to dress the Great Satan America in costumes, and paint it as an angel. We’ve expelled the Satan (the U.S.) out the door, it is forbidden for us to permit him to enter through the window.”

Yesterday U.S. President Barack Obama won a major victory in the congressional war over the Iran nuclear deal by gaining 41 Senate votes, which potentially enables a filibuster to preventing a vote on a Republican backed resolution to throw out the agreement.

With the majority of Senate Democrats in favor of the deal, its supporters can stop the disapproval resolution in its tracks in the Senate, thereby avoiding the need for a veto from Obama.

Psychedelic Drugs Are Making A Comeback As A Medical Treatment For PTSD

Health & Wellness

Although it has been around for decades, LSD has recently come back into the spotlight as medical researchers assess its potential as a therapeutic drug, along with other psychedelic compounds. Studies with these compounds are now being conducted to determine their effectiveness in treating conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and addiction.

Scientists were sure to mention that this would not be a standalone therapy, and would be administered under controlled conditions. As the negative perceptions of the drug have faded away, the research done in the 50s and 60s is also making a comeback.

Because LSD and other psychedelic compounds can dramatically affect one’s perception of reality, they have sometimes resulted in people harming themselves or experiencing psychosis, thus contributing to its negative perception.

Yet these rare incidents delayed valuable research on the drugs, like studies that have shown psychedelic mushrooms to be an effective treatment for alcoholism.

Dr. Matthew Johnson of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine stated, “Keep in mind that it’s different in many ways than what we may see in an abuse setting—when people come to the ER experiencing negative effects of these compounds.”

A small study at UCLA found LSD was effective at reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms, effects which persisted long-term in those individuals. Dr. Johnson commented, “We’re not talking about acute change in mood while the drug is in effect. People seem to have major shifts in their perspective, that is evidence going forward long-term.”

Johnson also pointed to an American study using MDMA to treat PTSD, which currently doesn’t have any effective treatments. The results of the MDMA study were excellent, and similarly strong results were shown in the treatment of end-of-life anxiety and depression, results that exceeded those achieved using approved medications. Johnson added, “Across the board we’re seeing some impressive results, certainly worthy of careful follow up.”

If further studies show that these drugs are indeed effective treatments, FDA approval may still be a long way off, both due to the perceptions of these drugs, as well as the requirement to conduct much larger studies.

Russian Troops Are Now In Syria And Its Making The Middle East Nervous

Entertainment News

After weeks of denial, Russian authorities have confirmed for the first time that their forces are indeed in Syria. Russia’s presence has been seen by many as an attempt to scuttle anti-terror efforts in the wake of an increased purge of ISIS in recent weeks. The move could compromise anti-terrorism in the region.

On Wednesday, Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed the presence of their military experts in the country. The statement further indicated that the men were only there to provide expert help in the fight against terror.

Zakharova said the experts were helping in the delivery of Russian arms to the Syrian military. The assistance, according to Moscow, would prove instrumental in the fight against ISIS. The statement did not give the number of Russian military forces present.

The disclosure comes barely a day after Syria’s information minister openly denied reports that Moscow had its men on Syrian soil. Omran al-Zoubi said such reports were “concocted in Western intelligence circles” to show Syria was too weak to handle its own internal wars and that president Bashar Assad, whom President Barrack Obama’s administration wants ousted, was ineffective against terror.

Intelligence reports have also noted increased air traffic from Russia to Syria. Some of these tracked flights involved the Antonov An-124, Russia’s largest military cargo plane, landing in Latakia, Syria, where Russia’s military men are stationed.

Alarmed by Russia’s growing presence in the Middle Eastern country, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on Russia’s Foreign Ministry head Sergey Lavrov to make known “concerns” over the “imminent” buildup of Russian forces.

The U.S. has also called upon Greece and Bulgaria to deny Russian military flights overflight access, a move Russia termed as amounting to “international boorishness.” Bulgarian authorities have since denied Russia overflight access while Greece Foreign Ministry spokesperson Constantinos Koutras said on Monday that the country was considering such a move.

The call by Kerry to Lavrov now indicates the U.S. administration is taking things seriously with Russia’s involvement. Lavrov on his part, confirmed the cooperation between Moscow and Assad’s regime, saying Moscow “has never concealed that it delivers military equipment to official Syrian authorities with the aim of combating terrorism.”

Currently, a 37 country alliance stands to fight the war against ISIS insurgents in Syria. However, Russia’s on-the-ground presence has raised concern as their motive, aside from the forwarded “fight against terror” cliché, largely remains unknown. This may mean bad news for those actually combatting terror groups in the Middle East.

McDonald’s Announces Plans To Switch To Cage Free Eggs

Finance

Over the next decade, McDonald’s plans to make the transition to cage free eggs in the United States and Canada. The burger chain is trying to reinvent itself as a “modern, progressive burger company” according to CEO Steve Easterbrook. Additionally, the company plans to switch to using chickens that have been raised without most antibiotics. The decision shows that McDonald’s is making a stronger effort to consider concerns about animal welfare by consumers.

Other leading restaurant chains, such as Chipotle, have been putting pressure on McDonald’s and other companies to make such a transition through their own environmental practices.

Battery cages have long been under fire by animal activists. These cages confine hens in spaces which give them virtually no space to move around. The Humane Society of the United States has been pressuring McDonald’s to make the switch to cage free eggs for over ten years. The group’s vice-president of farm and animal protection Paul Shapiro says “It makes it clearer than ever that cages just do not have a future in the egg industry.”

Industry regulations have been making it more urgent for restaurants to make the switch to cage free eggs. For example, a recent California law now mandates that laying hens be provided with sufficient room to stretch, turn around, and flap their wings. Subway and Starbucks are also planning to switch to cage free eggs.

The United Egg Producers state that only around 6% of the nation’s egg-laying hens are cage free. However, CEO of the group Chad Gregory says that the figure should rise in the near future. Currently, less than 1% of the eggs used by McDonald’s are cage free.

Senior vice president of the North American supply chain at McDonald’s Marion Gross says that the company is now working with its current egg suppliers in order to convert housing systems for hens.

Gross believes that the transition will be truly meaningful to customers. “They know how big we are, and the impact we can make on the industry,” Gross said. The change will have a major impact at McDonald’s, as the chain plans to begin offering select breakfast items all day in the United States. Whether the changes are enough to stop a rising tide of competitors squeezing the very concept of the burger chain remains to be seen.

U.S. Ramping Up Arctic Military Presence As China, Russia, Canada All Eye Lucrative Business Opportunities

News

As Russia and China ramp up their military presence in the resource-rich Arctic, various United States agencies also are quickly trying to establish increased intelligence in the area – at a level not seen since the Cold War.

For the first time, five Chinese warships recently were spotted in the Bering Sea travelling between Alaska and Russia. United States officials say that the ships were abiding by international law, but they passed Alaska at a time when President Obama was visiting the state, which some see as China sending a message. Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit the White House later this month.

The United States did not respond to the incident, likely so as not to raise tensions between the two countries. United States Chief of naval operations, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, stated in an interview with Reuters that, “[China] already had one of their icebreakers up in that area, and they weren’t that far away with an exercise and they’ve already started their return transit.”

Nonetheless the incident is noteworthy.

A spokesman for the U.S. State Department, Mark Toner, was quoted as stating, “This is certainly the first time we have observed Chinese navy ships in the Bering Sea, but that said, we do certainly respect the freedom of all nations to operate military vessels in international waters in accordance with international law.”

Despite the seemingly innocuous incident, it underscores the effort that U.S. intelligence agencies have taken over the past year – including assigning several analysts to work full time on studying the Arctic region for weaknesses and possible threats.

The increased attention that several countries are directing toward the Arctic comes as global warming opens new sea lanes for travel – thereby setting off a race for the largely untapped natural resources found in the area. Several nations actively are pursuing jurisdiction over the Arctic seabed.

The U.S. focus primarily is aimed at Russia’s increased military buildup in the Arctic region occurring under President Vladimir Putin. The Russian government announced its plans last year to reopen several former Soviet-era military bases in the region, including airfields, that were closed after the Soviet Union collapsed.

Alaska Governor Bill Walker has expressed his concern that the U.S. is closing bases and reducing troop numbers while Russia is rebuilding its military to a size that has not been seen in several years. He stated that, “It’s the biggest buildup of the Russian military since the Cold War. They’re reopening 10 bases and building four more, and they’re all in the Arctic, so here we are in the middle of the pond, feeling a little bit uncomfortable with the [United States] military drawdown.”

The United States is, however, sharing intelligence with Canada and assisting its northern neighbor in refurbishing a listening post about 500 miles from the North Pole. The post once employed a system of radar stations that observed the area and kept lookout for incoming Russian bombers and missiles. The U.S. is also upgrading the advanced spy shift, the Marjata, built to collect electronic intelligence. It is scheduled to travel to the Atlantic side of the Arctic in November for the purpose of eavesdropping on Russian military movements.

Despite the flurry of activity taking place by all of these countries, the Office of Naval Research stresses that we should not be too worried. Official Scott Harper stated that, “We’re not storming into the Arctic; it’s not a crisis. But we’re doing research that will determine how our systems will work properly if and when we do.”

Netflix Just Unveiled A Global Growth Plan That Will See It Enter Two Countries Every Week For Over A Year

Finance

Netflix, once known as a U.S. movie rental service, is going global with plans to offer services in over 200 countries by next year. The popular streaming service is looking to dominate the online TV market by rapid expansion, by both marginalizing traditional media companies and aggressively fighting a slew of tech companies entering the space.

With the aggressive expansion plans becoming apparent in recent days, analysts are wondering what that will mean for traditional media giants in foreign countries as well as rival tech companies, such as Chinese search giant Alibaba, which is also now solidly involved in creating television content.

Netflix is planning to enter Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong by early 2016, as it moves to complete its global rollout by the end of next year.

Netflix is currently live in 77 countries. Completing the 200 nations in the world circuit will mean the company expands into 123 countries by next year.

That’s two countries every week.

But the online streaming giant is not only ready, it has already began.

The service entered Asia for the first time when it went live in Japan this month. Earlier in the year, it launched in Australia and New Zealand. It will debut in Spain, Portugal and Italy next month.

The Los Gatos, Calif., based company will allow internet users in these countries to stream their favorite content anytime, anywhere, after subscribing. Further details that include pricing and programming will be disclosed to viewers later.

According to company chief executive Reed Hastings, “The combination of increasing Internet speeds and ubiquity of connected devices provides consumers with the anytime, anywhere ability to enjoy their favorite TV shows and movies on the Netflix service.”

For the foreign countries, the launch of Netflix will see increased traffic on incumbent carriers. In Australia, National Broadband Network’s (NBN) Bill Morrow told a press conference that the launch of Netflix caused a 60 per cent hike in their links.

Another likely effect will be that stories from around the world will become available to viewers millions of miles away. Netflix said it planned to “source great stories from around the world and deliver them to the world.”

In January, through a letter to investors, company executives said, “We now believe we can complete our global expansion over the next two years.” Through such an expansion, the service will be penetrating to parts of the world where it would be almost impossible for cable TV to reach. The company would thus usher in a new age of truly global programming offered to the entire world.

Decades After Exxon Valdez Oil Spill The Effects Are Still Being Felt By Alaskan Wildlife

Culture

U.S. scientists believe they have found a link between declining pink salmon and herring populations in Prince William Sound and the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. In a report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), researchers say they have found that embryonic herring and salmon exposed to even minute levels of crude oil had a tendency of developing heart defects.

The findings are significant as it has been over 25 years since the spill happened and yet the effects are just now starting to become apparent.

Research toxicologist at Seattle’s NOAA Fisheries’ Northwest Fisheries Science Center, John Incardona, said pink salmon and herring juveniles, which as embryos were exposed to crude oil, grew at a much slower rate and swam slower making it easier for predators to catch them.

“These juvenile fish on the outside look completely normal, but their hearts are not functioning properly and that translates directly into reduced swimming ability and reduced survival,” said Incardona. “In terms of impacts to shore-spawning fish, the oil spill likely had a much bigger footprint than anyone realized.”

The oil tanker Exxon Valdez struck a charted reef on March 24, 1989, pouring 11 million gallons of crude oil which contaminated large areas of shoreline spawning habitat of pink salmon and herring in Prince William Sound. Shortly after the environmental disaster, pink salmon stocks in the area declined and herring numbers collapsed. Herring is a key species in the marine food chain in the spill area, eaten by seabirds, salmon and marine mammals,

The report says that well into the 1990’s, scientists knew very little about how fish exposed to low-level crude oil were affected, especially in early life stages, and that even now, despite the report’s release, the question of how big an effect the Exxon Valdez spill had on fish, will remain controversial.

As part of their study, the NOAA scientists temporarily exposed salmon and herring embryos to low levels of crude oil and then placed them back into clean water. They found that “thresholds for harm were remarkably low,” leading them to believe the effects of the spilled oil from the Exxon Valdez was much worse than has been thought up to now.

The report said that records of water samples collected in 1989 during herring spawning season in Prince William Sound, 98 percent contained oil concentrations above the level which caused heart development abnormalities among herring in the study.

Leader of the NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Nat Scholz, said study researchers using swimming speed to measure fish cardiorespiratory fitness, determined fish exposed to the highest levels of crude oil were the slowest swimmers, making them the most vulnerable to predators.

“We now know the developing fish heart is exquisitely sensitive to crude oil toxicity, and that subtle changes in heart formation can have delayed but important consequences for first-year survival, which in turn determines the long-term abundance of wild fish populations,” he said.

Incardona said the study findings should help scientists to more accurately assess the effects of oil spills in the future.

Scientists Forge Ahead With Plans To Revive Ancient Ice Age Virus

Culture

Scientists are proceeding with plans to reanimate a 30,000 year old virus that has been frozen in Siberia, in order to prepare for the possible release of long-frozen pathogens as global warming melts Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, where long dormant viruses lie buried beneath the ise.

The discovery of Mollivirus sibericum, the fourth prehistoric virus to be found since 2003, was made by French researchers.

The Mollivirus is known as a “giant” virus because it is longer than half a micron, or two ten thousandths of an inch, and was found in the permafrost of northeastern Russia. As global temperatures rise what were formerly regions of “permafrost” are now going through freeze and thaw cycles, potentially introducing long frozen pathogens back into the ecosystem.

In order to prevent an incident, the researchers will first verify that the virus is not capable of animal or human disease. Lead researcher Jean-Michel Claverie commented on the discovery, “A few viral particles that are still infectious may be enough, in the presence of a vulnerable host, to revive potentially pathogenic viruses.”

The likelihood of potential human exposure to such a pathogen is good, considering that these microbes are being discovered in resource-rich areas, which were previously impractical to access for industrial development. Mr. Claverie went on, “If we are not careful, and we industrialize these areas without putting safeguards in place, we run the risk of one day waking up to viruses such as smallpox that we thought were eradicated.”

Scientists have been interested to learn that these ancient viruses are more genetically complex than those of today, sometimes containing hundreds or even thousands of genes. The newly discovered M. sibericum has over 500 genes.

With the U.S. and Russia embarking on oil exploration missions and other projects in the newly accessible Arctic, the possibility for an incident is there. A far more likely scenario, however, would involve a flu pandemic, which has millions of available animal hosts at factory farms to provide for incubation and cycling of new iterations of the virus, and the presence of a human vector in the form of agricultural workers.

The most recent flu pandemic began in India in January 2015, and as of March has claimed more more than 2,000 lives and infected over 33,000. This particular strain was of swine flu, which had previously caused a worldwide pandemic in 2009.

Hillary Clinton Says ‘I’m Sorry’ For Email Scandal Yet Questions, And Biden, Still Loom

News

Hillary Clinton offered Americans her first apology over the email scandal that is threatening to bring down her campaign. Through a taped interview, Clinton summarized her apology as a “mistake” while taking a lot of precaution to sound legitimately remorseful. However, many analysts think it may be a little too late for her and her campaign for the top job.

In a taped interview aired on ABC news on Tuesday, Clinton said, “Even though it was allowed, I should have used two accounts. One for personal, one for work-related emails. That was a mistake. I’m sorry about that. I take responsibility.”

Further recognizing that she could have made her apology earlier in the year, the former secretary of state said, “I do think I could have and should have done a better job answering questions earlier,” she added. “I really didn’t, perhaps, appreciate the need to do that.”

Clinton’s apology comes a day after she told the Associated Press that she would not apologize for her use of a private email when sending state department confidential emails because what she did “was allowed.”

In the months following the email investigation, Clinton surrendered 55,000 pages of work emails after a request was made by the State Department while the FBI took possession of her emails servers last month.

When questioned during the interview by ABC whether she would survive the FBI investigation, Clinton reminded Americans of her long career in Washington, the longest of all 2016 presidential contenders.

She said, “As you might guess I’ve been around a while, lots of attacks, questions raised. I can survive it because I’m running to be president, to do what the country needs done.”

Just how much damage has the scandal brought her campaign? Dwindling figures in polls and America’s confidence in her. A recent survey Quinnipiac University poll showed 61 percent of Americans did not view Clinton as being honest while a paltry 34 percent did.

Another poll by Monmouth University showed Clinton at her worst performance since launching her campaign. She polled in at 42 percent among Democrats while Vice President Joe Biden was second with 22 percent and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders third at 20 per cent.

Clinton’s campaigners now hope her apology will offer her an opportunity to redeem herself, something she never did in 2008.

In the run up for the 2008 Democratic ticket, asked on whether she thought voting to allow the invasion of Iraq was wrong, Clinton refused to apologize. She only dismissed the matter in front of a new Hampshire crowd with the words, “If the most important thing to any of you is choosing someone who did not cast that vote or who has said his vote was a mistake, then there are others to choose from.” For many that refusal to apologize was what ultimately cost her the Democratic ticket.

Clinton’s campaign is facing heavy fire. Her email scandal is erupting and the confidence Americans have in her is fast waning. It will be interesting to see whether her apology will change her fortunes ahead of the first Democratic Presidential Debate.

Miami Beach Will Now Provide Free Sunscreen To Help Bathers Look Younger (And Avoid Skin Cancer)

Health & Wellness

The city of Miami Beach, in a landmark move, has begun offering public sunscreen dispensers placed in near pools and beaches in order to curb cancer rates associated with prolonged sun exposure.

With one in five Americans expected to develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and global rates on the rise, officials and medical professionals are still struggling to find the most effective way to persuade the public to be more vigilant in protecting themselves.

The Miami initiative hopes to create a measurable impact on this epidemic.

To illustrate the importance of the issue, there are more new cases of skin cancer per year than the combined cases of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer, according to the Skin Cancer foundation.

Because skin cancer takes decades to surface in individuals, it is very challenging to design effective policies for public education. Additionally, human psychology can sometimes counteract the efforts of a campaign that focuses on the negatives of a risky behavior in a phenomenon known as risk aversion.

Researchers tested the theory on public beaches by handing out differently worded leaflets which either emphasized the threat of skin cancer, or the positive outcome of retaining younger looking skin. Those individuals who were shown the positives of better skin were more likely to take the free sunscreen that was offered.

One good sign in the fight on skin cancer is that the rate of tanning bed use among adults declined from 5.5% to 4.2% between 2010 and 2013, possibly resulting from the 10% excise tax on indoor tanning that was introduced in 2010 as part of the Affordable Care Act.

In Australia an educational government campaign about the risks of skin cancer, started in 1980, is beginning to show up in the skin cancer statistics among young people. Even as many other Western countries are experiencing increasing rates of skin cancer in their youth populations, Australia has been seeing a strong decline in the same group.

Miami Beach hopes that by providing convenient access to sunscreen, along with positive messages about why to use it, it will see similar results in the decades to come.

UK Threatens More Drone Attacks After Killing Two Of Its Citizens Fighting For ISIS

Entertainment News

The UK would not hesitate to launch further drone attacks in Syria to prevent terrorist plots even if it meant killing UK citizens fighting for Islamic extremists terror groups, says UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon. Earlier this week two UK citizens known to be Islamic State jihadists were killed in a drone strike which Fallon said was a “perfectly legal act of self defence.”

“We wouldn’t hesitate to take similar action again,” said Fallon citing his government rights under Article 51 of the United Nations charter, which says member states had an “inherent right of self-defence” if it is believed an armed attack was imminent.

Falloon would not comment on an alleged “hit list” of suspected terrorist targets.

“There are a large number of individuals – not all British – out there in Syria… who are actively involved in planning armed attacks here in Britain.” he said.

Security expert say if a hit list existed it “would be something drawn up digitally”, based on information from informants or intercepted online communications.

Media questions about the existence of a hit list were spurred by claims from the father of two other British citizens believed to be in Syria.

Ahmed Muthana, whose 17 year old son Aseel Muthana and his 20 year old brother, Nasser, said he believed both would be targeted in a drone strike because the UK government was “targeting everyone now.”

The debate on UK’s use of drones started on Monday when it was announced that Cardiff-born Reyaad Khan, 21, and 26 year old Ruhul Amin, from Aberdeen, were killed in a precision drone strike in Raqqa on August 21st. Another known British Jihadist, Junaid Hussain, was killed by a US drone strike on August 24th

The August 21st attack was the first “officially” targeted UK drone strike on British citizens, and followed the receipt of information gathered by UK’s secret intelligence services.

Fallon said there was “no other way” of stopping Khan, whom British Prime Minister David Cameron said was planning “barbaric” attacks on “high-profile public commemorations” in Britain.

Insurance Companies Just Started Offering Ride Sharing Policies For Uber Drivers

Finance

In an innovative move by ridesharing juggernaut Uber, the company has partnered with a traditional insurance company to create a first-of-its-kind ridesharing insurance coverage. This novel idea may pave the way for all major insurance companies to get in the game of providing ridesharing insurance as it is clear that on-demand ridesharing, and Uber for that matter, are not going away anytime soon.

Yet the company still faces a myriad of legal challenges and one of the key issues around the world is insurance. It seems both the company and big insurers are now keen to turn this problem into an opportunity.

Specifically, in Canada, Uber Technologies Inc. is partnering with Intact Financial Corp. to develop and create the first automotive vehicle insurance policy focused directly on ridesharing services. The newly created insurance policy hopes to fill in a gap that presently exists in the ridesharing industry. As it stands now, many Uber drivers and passengers are at risk of not being covered by traditional auto insurance policies.

A statement released by both companies provides that, “We have been working with Intact Financial to develop an innovative, new insurance plan for ridesharing in Canada that we hope will come to market soon. This plan will be the first of its kind designed exclusively for the ridesharing industry in Canada.”

Intact executive Louis Gagnon stated that, “With the growing popularity of the sharing and on-demand economy, we are adapting our product range to offer innovative solutions to meet the changing needs of consumers.”

As Uber rides in Canada are already covered by the company’s traditional auto liability insurance policy, it is unclear of the impact of the newly created insurance. The companies are offering few concrete details of the plan as they await approval from the country’s insurance regulators.

What is clear is the impact this type of partnership likely will have on the insurance industry as a whole. If Canada’s regulators approve this type of insurance, which is expected to occur, this could mean a whole new ball game for insurance companies across the globe as they seek to capitalize on the ridesharing industry.

Clinton Still Leads Dems But Biden Continues To Gain Ground

News

In what many see as no surprise, Hillary Clinton’s lead among Democratic presidential hopefuls is continuing to decline while support for Joe Biden, who has yet to announce whether he plans on running for President, steadily increases. Now Clinton has to worry about not only Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders closing in on her lead but also the Vice President – who is running neck and neck with Sanders.

In the most recent Monmouth survey, 42% of Democrats polled supported Clinton while 22% supported Biden. 10% of those polled supported Sanders and all other candidates received less than 1% support.

These results sharply contrast with last month’s Monmouth survey, where Clinton had 52% support, Sanders had 16% support and Biden earned 12% support.

The results of the latest Monmouth survey come shortly after NBC/Marist polls indicated that Sanders had a double-digit lead over Clinton in New Hampshire (Biden was not included as a choice in that poll). The NBC poll also showed that Clinton’s lead in Iowa was deteriorating.

With respect to characterization of the Democratic candidates, the recent poll indicates that 71% of those polled view Biden in a positive, favorable light with just 9% viewing the Vice President as “unfavorable.” The same poll shows that Clinton is also viewed by 71% favorability, but 17% saw her unfavorably.

In addition to the favorable ratings for Biden, a number of additional Democrats polled stated they would support or would likely support Biden if he officially announced his run for President.

When those polled were asked if they would be more likely to support Biden if he chose Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren as a running mate, the majority stated that it would not change their decision, while a minority stated they would be more likely to vote for Biden. About 7% also stated they would be less likely to vote for Biden if he ran with Warren.

This most recent poll was conducted via phone survey between August 31st and September 2nd. 339 registered Democrats were surveyed. The poll states that the margin of error is plus or minus 5.3 percentage points.

After 37 Years The Loggerhead Sea Turtle Is Making A Comeback In Georgia

Culture

On the beaches of Cumberland Island, Georgia, the work of wildlife biologist Doug Hoffman has begun to positively affect the populations of giant loggerhead sea turtles there after many years. Turtle populations increased following a decline the previous year in one of the strongest summer seasons on record, which included the Carolinas and Florida.

This year marks the fifth season in six years that saw an increase over the previous record, with scientists recording nearly 2,300 loggerhead nests in Georgia alone.

The species was listed 37 years ago as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, and along with the green sea turtle in Florida, may have begun to enter a recovery phase. The green sea turtle came near extinction in the 80s, where less than 50 nests per year were being counted, a number which now exceeds 12,000.

Because both species take decades to reach sexual maturity, researchers cannot yet determine whether the recent numbers are a sign of a permanent recovery. Kate Mansfield of the Marine Turtle Research Group at the University of Central Florida commented on the effort, “It’s promising and exciting, but the long term perspective is needed… For the past five years we’ve had good years, but we have to look at this over 25-plus years.”

Some of the strategies to boost the population include placing protective mesh over turtle nests to protect from predators, and special nets that have been required on shrimp trawler boats since 1987 that allow the turtles to escape.

In Georgia, nests were only averaging around 1,000 per year between 1989 and 2009, but then began a rapid rise. The trends in the Carolinas were similar to those in Georgia, showing a big drop in 2014 before rebounding this year.

The long term goal for loggerhead turtles was to have 2,800 nests by 2028, which is just within reach as long as current trends continue.

The Great Lakes States Are Booming And People Are Starting To Notice

News

In an area of the country that is associated with not only the automotive industry but also poverty and government corruption, the Great Lakes region is starting to shake its bad reputation.

Midwestern states from Minnesota to western Pennsylvania have sustained recent growth in a young, educated population as well as a revival in several core industries such as energy, logistics and manufacturing. Also, all of the Great Lakes states, with the exception of Illinois, currently have unemployment rates below the national average – a significant change from earlier years.

Michigan, which has been plagued by years of economic decline and increased governmental troubles, has recently been described as the “biggest success story” as the state has added 302,543 jobs between November 2009 through July 2015. This represents a 7.2% increase.

The improved economic conditions in the Great Lakes region is mostly due to the nation’s revival of industrial industries. In fact, the fastest growth in industrial jobs over the past few years has been in Warren, Detroit and Grand Rapids – all cities in Michigan.

Additional political and structural factors also contribute to the growing recovery in the Great Lakes region. For example, the North American energy boom and rising wages in China have allowed American companies to be cost-competitive. The energy prices in the United States are generally significantly less than in other countries.

In the past, the Great Lakes region has suffered a mass exodus of people seeking more stable and nicer areas of the country. That is not the case anymore. Thousands of people, seeking more affordable costs of living have recently migrated to the region. The area also boasts the greatest increase in movement of younger, college-educated individuals and families.

Moreover, it should be noted that the Great Lakes region is home to a plethora of engineers – more than any other area of the United States. Outside of the social media and search industries, which generally are headquartered in California and Oregon, much of the nation’s industrial engineering takes place in the Great Lakes region. In fact, many of the earliest advances in self-driving vehicles were made not by Google but rather John Deere.

One area of Michigan is referred to as “automation alley,” where computer software meets the actual manufacturing metal. Many companies in the area are producing computer-controlled systems for automobile companies as well as factory efficiency software.

The region’s continued success is contingent upon a few factors – such as possible EPA greenhouse regulations, which could force many coal-fired plants to shut down – and international concerns – such as China’s devaluation of its currency. A stronger American dollar leads to more expensive exports. These factors may not affect the industries on the West and East coasts, but will likely affect the Midwest, where the states are greatly independent on manufacturing industries.

However, if these factors generally remain stable, and if the Great Lakes region continues to grow its core industries while expanding into new industries, it is definitely looking up for the individuals who live in the area and for the nation as a whole.

High Frequency Trading Firm Citadel Receives Three Month Ban From Chinese Markets

Finance

In its latest attempt to stabilize China’s stock exchange and economy as a whole, the Chinese government has imposed a three-month trading suspension on several trading accounts, with one being Citadel Shanghai Trading, a subsidiary owned by the United States company, Citadel Investment Group. The firm’s trading account has been suspended on the Shenzhen stock exchange but is allowed to conduct business on the Shanghai exchange.

Citadel is best known for being an ultra-successful high frequency trading (HFT) firm that operates questionable yet highly profitable trading strategies. It also notoriously close to the federal reserve, seeming to fill a niche left vacant when big Wall Street banks became subject to increased regulation after the 2008 financial crisis.

The government’s suspension of Citadel Shanghai Trading is just one of the measures taken to shore up investor confidence in China’s volatile stock markets. In addition to setting interest rates, prohibiting certain institutional investors from trading on the markets and the devaluation of Chinese currency, the government is also conducting extensive investigations into any investor possibly manipulating the markets.

Citadel’s account was suspended by China’s security authorities after an investigation found alleged frequent purchases and cancellations of stock orders, otherwise known as spoofing or a “high order cancellation rate.” The investigation shone a spotlight on Citic Securities, China’s largest brokerage firm and a former partner of Citadel Shanghai Trading.

Citadel Shanghai Trading was created in 2010 when Citadel Global Trading and Citic United Venture Capital formed a joint venture. The creation of Citadel Shanghai Trading was good news for the Chinese government and an analyst states that, “Following the collapse of the bull market in 2008, Beijing authorities hope foreign institutional investors can introduce stock trading expertise into China and inject more liquidity into the market.”

Following this week’s suspension, Citadel released a statement that, “We can confirm that while one account managed by Guosen Futures Ltd – Citadel (Shanghai) Trading Ltd – has had its trading on the Shenzhen Exchange suspended, we continue to otherwise operate normally from our offices, and we continue to comply with all local laws and regulations.”

Despite the recent suspension from the Shenzhen stock market, it is reported that Citadel has never been accused by any government for “spoofing” or manipulating stock markets.

Just Days After China’s Massive Military Parade, Vietnam And Philippines Sign Military Cooperation Agreement

Entertainment News

The Philippines and Vietnam have announced their plans to sign a strategic partnership agreement by year’s end, in an effort to counter China’s aggressive moves in the region. The move is planned to take place at the November Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) in Manila.

As China continues to pursue its South China Sea annexation strategy, it maintains a public position of peace. These conflicting goals were displayed last week in its WWII victory parade, which showcased its latest military hardware even as president Xi Jinping made affirmations of China’s commitment to peace. The parallel to Hitler’s actions in the lead up to WWII is as striking as it is ironic. Following Germany’s annexation of parts of Czechoslovakia in early 1938, the United Kingdom and other nations responded by signing the Munich Agreement with Hitler, which stated that Czechoslovakia must allow the annexations.

President Xi stated during last week’s ceremony that his nation does not seek war, but will defend its interests in the region. Translation, if you let us keep doing what we want there won’t be any trouble. China knows of the potential response to its continued pressure in the South China Sea, which is why it chose to display row after row of its newest anti-ship missile, the DF-21D, capable of destroying an aircraft carrier in one hit. This was just one among the many other ballistic missiles on display during the parade.

Philippine president Benigno Aquino has made comparisons between China and Nazi Germany in the past, as he has pressured world leaders to take more action on the issue. Japan and the Philippines were the only countries who chose not to send any government representatives to China’s victory parade last week.

Although Vietnam has a more complicated relationship with China due to the presence of many pro-Chinese in the country’s leadership, they have since moved ahead with a strategic partnership with the Philippines that first began in last November’s APEC forum in Beijing. The move does not appear to be purely symbolic either, as both countries plan for future joint naval exercises and trade initiatives.

Dell Predicts Only Three PC Manufacturers Will Be Left Standing After Mobile Takes Over

Finance

Michael Dell, CEO and founder of the PC company that bears his name, says most of the non-giant companies selling computers will be out of business within the next seven years. Speaking at a conference in India he said that the big three computer manufacturers – HP, Dell and Lenovo, which currently hold 50 percent of the market, will control a minimum of 80 percent in that time period.

Dell said in the first half of 2015, his company had surpassed Lenovo and HP in notebook sales and the company had “now grown ten quarters in a row”.

But experts say since Dell is a privately held company, no data exists to back the claims apart from records kept by PC industry analysts.

They say statistics put together by Gartner show that in 2014 Dell had 12.8 percent market share, HP 17.5 percent, and Lenovo was leading the pack with 18.8 per cent, with Acer trailing way behind and struggling to move up the field.

Lenovo has reportedly set itself a target of reaching 30 percent of global PC sales. This year Lenovo has taken 19.7 per cent of the market in sales, followed by HP with 17.4 percent, and Dell at 14 percent.

Lenovo’s European operations president Eric Cado said “it is better to be the big guy than the little guy, because it is expensive and you need to have a better balance sheet. Financially it is tough There is nobody arguing that we will not be there in the future. The market trends toward commoditization … plays totally in our favour. We know how to play the low-cts environment.”

Experts say Sony and Samsung have already quit the PC market and that Toshiba has financial woes and looking at selling its PC operations or shutting it down completely.

Cador believes consolidation is a must for minor PC companies – “you need to be in the number one or two position to have a chance to make some profit”.

The CEO of accounting firm Context, Jeremy Davis, agreed with Dell’s prediction of a shrinking PC manufacturing market.

This Obscure Hedge Fund Has Just Become The Largest Buyer Of U.S. Treasury Bills

Finance

Using a leverage-heavy strategy that was popular before the 2008 financial crisis, Element Capital Management LLC has been making large moves in the $12.8 trillion U.S. Treasury market in recent months. The strategy has been very profitable for the company, averaging a 20% return since its inception in 2005.

After rumors began swirling that the company has bought over $12 billion in treasuries, regulators are increasingly eyeing the firm in anticipation that history could repeat itself.

Regulators are particularly worried because the company has been buying so many treasuries that in recent months it has been the largest buyer. This position is usually occupied by countries and not individual financial firms.

After hedge funds and other banks began to leave the Treasury market following the financial crisis, Element began to account for a larger portion of that trading volume. Hedge fund Long Term Capital Management (LTCM) pursued a similar strategy in the 1990s using much more leverage, before collapsing in 1998 following the Asian and Russian financial crises.

Element’s strategy involves shorting treasuries using borrowed funds leading up to a Treasury auction. During a Treasury auction, the new influx of securities can temporarily depress prices, during which time Element can complete its trade, profiting off the small price differential.

Element had until recently been shorting bonds, in anticipation of higher interest rates. As the world economy displays indications of increased volatility, expectations in the near term that the Fed may raise rates have dwindled, leading Element to abandon this strategy to more heavily favor Treasuries.

Element CEO Jeffrey Talpins should well remember the lesson of LTCM as a demonstration of the danger of leverage. LTCM’s failure lead to a bailout agreement among 16 major financial organizations, including the infamous Lehman Brothers, under direction by the Federal Reserve. The company lasted only four years, posting similar returns to Element. Perhaps Talpins should be happy that he has already more than doubled their record.

Those familiar with the Treasury market have called the strategy “eyebrow raising,” as regulators have discouraged such behavior in the wake of the 2008 crisis. Although Congress has passed some measures of finance reform since then, Element’s strategy is still within the law.

South Africa Is Holding A Massive Rare Animal Slaughter As The Dentist Who Murdered Cecil The Lion Returns To Work

Culture

Just months after the infamous Walter Palmer shot and killed the beloved lion Cecil, right outside a national park in Zimbabwe, a legal massacre is currently taking place in South Africa.

Specifically, a week-long hunt began earlier this week in South Africa during which rich foreign hunters will hunt baboons, antelope, wildebeest and other animals.

The animals are not shot in their natural roaming environments. They are scared and forced to run out of the bush and along a narrow path lined with elevated, wood structures from which hunters stand and literally take pot shots as the terrified animals run for their lives.

Several animal rights activists have travelled to Braam Farm where the shooting is taking place in an effort to stop the hunt. One group, Ban Animal Trading South Africa (“BAT”), described on their Facebook page that the scene is devastating.

“‘The Drivers [those who beat drums in order to scare the animals down the path] are driving these terrified Wild Animals out of the bush and down a specially cleared 2 [mile] stretch of land where 600 platforms have been erected for these lazy BLOOD THIRSTY hunters to sit and shoot. We have megaphones and are shouting, we have sirens on loudspeakers and nothing will stop these MURDERERS who have no heart, no compassion and are made up of pure evil.”

By noon on the first day, BAT reported that 18 animals had been slaughtered.

It is believed that a total of 13 hunters, mostly from Belgium and Holland, are taking part in the hunt. Many of these hunters are accompanied by their girlfriends and wives, who simply sit and watch their partners shoot the defenseless animals.

Ainsly Hay of the NSPCA, South Africa’s national animal charity – comparable to the United States’ ASPCA – described the horrific scene and observed that some of the animals would suffer lengthy deaths as oftentimes they are shot and continue to run away.

Hay observes that, “These animals are going to be terrified, they are chased through the bush, they will be scared, running together, they are moving targets, it is . . . horrendous.”

As publicity around the death of Cecil, and the fact that Palmer is returning to his dental practice this week, continues to swirl, news of the legal mass hunting in South Africa is enraging groups and individuals on an international level.

Five Quickly Flooding Pacific Islands Call For Worldwide Ban On Coal Mines

Culture

Five Pacific island nations are demanding a global moratorium on new coal mines as a way to halt global climate change.

The leaders from the Kiribati, Cook Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands have called for a limit to global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius and that countries keep to the polluter pays principle, where litigation is possible against pollution problems created in one country and affecting another.

The five nations’ call follows a letter the president of the Republic of Kiribati, Anote Tong, sent to world leaders calling for a halt to new coal mine development which he described as “an essential initial step on our collective global action against climate change” and necessary for countries like Kiribati which face “a very uncertain future” because of global warming.

Experts say many Pacific Island nations are threatened by changing weather patterns and rising sea levels, direct effects of global warming.

Tong’s letter and the five nation declaration are expected to be a contentious issue at this weeks broader 16-nation Pacific Island Forum leaders summit and retreat, considering that last month Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, in announcing Australia’s new climate targets said his government’s policies were “the only way to protect the coal industry”.

Abbott has also been quoted as saying “coal is good for humanity” and for criticizing the reversal of an environmental impact approval for Australia’s biggest coal mine –Queensland’s Carmichael mine.

Greg Hunt, Australia’s Environment Minister Greg Hunt said the government was continually working towards preventing climate change.

“As part of our commitment to tackling climate change, we will be pursuing a 26-28 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 from 2005 levels,” he said.

“Our target is strong and credible – one which not only reflects our national circumstances, but one which will see Australia make a major contribution to addressing climate change globally.”

Retail Giant Amazon Is Launching A Huge New Restaurant Delivery Service

Finance

Never content with its already dominant position in the ecommerce industry, Amazon is getting in the game of fresh food delivery. Services like Amazon Fresh and Amazon Restaurants are being introduced in markets around the country. While it is not exactly clear yet as to what the Amazon Restaurants service will ultimately look like, the company is actively hiring for “City Managers” to “drive the sales and marketing efforts for Amazon Restaurants as we expand into new regions.”

Presently, Amazon has launched Amazon Fresh in a few of America’s largest cities. The service allows users to order their groceries online and drivers partnered with Amazon Fresh will deliver the groceries straight to your door. While local, independent companies have provided this service for years, especially in big cities, this is one of the first services provided by such an enormous e-commerce company.

With respect to Amazon Restaurants, the hiring advertisement touts that, “Ordering food just got easier with the introduction of Amazon Restaurants! One of Amazon’s latest innovations, Amazon Restaurants enables customers to order meals from top rated restaurants in their area. Following the product debut in our launch market, Amazon Restaurants will rapidly expand in regions across the US offering Amazon customers increased selection and convenience. The Amazon Restaurants business offers an entrepreneurial environment where innovating independently, launching quickly, and having fun are paramount.”

The launch of Amazon Restaurants follows Uber’s recent launch of UberEATS, whose website states that “UberEATS delivers the best of your city right when you want it. Our curated menus feature dishes from the local spots you love. And the ones you’ve always wanted to try. It’s same cashless payment as an Uber ride. So, just tap the app, meet your driver outside, and enjoy.”

When describing a recent update to the UberEATS app, an Uber spokesperson stated that, “The new [UberEATS] interface is available in UberEATS cities. The layout separates RIDES from EATS and creates a more seamless, intuitive experience across services. We are always experimenting to find new, creative ways to make the Uber app more user friendly.”

With respect to Amazon, it certainly is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with all of the company’s projects. Amazon Restaurants will certainly add more profits to the e-commerce behemoth.